Key-board for type-writing machines



(No Model.)

G W. BALDRIGE.

KEY BOARD FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES. I

No. 345,565. Patented July 13, 1886.

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FIGJL UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

GEORGE NV. BALDRIGE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

KEY-BOARD FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 345,565, dated July 13,1886.

Application filed April 9, 1886. Serial No. 198,307.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. BALDRIGE, of the city of St. Louis, in theState of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inKey-Boards for Type-VVriting Machines, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, and in which-- Figure I isa front elevation ofmy improved machine, thekeys beingin section. Fig.II is a top view. Fig. III is a front elevation, the keys being invertical section. Fig. IV is a top view showing the fingerpieces turnedto operate adifferent set of keys from that shown in Fig. II. Fig. V-isa detail view showing the stems of the finger-pieces in the positionshown in Figs. I and II. Fig. VI is a similar view showing the stems ofthe finger-pieces in the position shown in Figs. III and IV. Figs. VII,VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII illustrate modified forms of my preferredconstruction.

My invention relates to an improvement that may be applied totype-writers, mechanical telegmph-transmitters, or other finger-pieceinstruments, whereby one'key may be used to operate more than one letteror character; and my invention consists in features of noveltyhereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims. i

Referring to the drawings, A represents the keys of a type-writer ortelegraph-t ransmitter, and B represents 'the finger-pieces having stemsO. Thekeys are connected to the levers of the type-writer by wires inany well-known manner. Each stem 0 is bent at D, and all the stems aresupported by an upper station ary plate, E, and a lower movable plate,F. This latter plate is pivoted by links G to posts H, and is held overinto the position shown in Figs. I and II by a suitable spring, I,connecting one of the links G to a stationary part of the framing, asshown in Figs. II and IV. When in this position, the stems of thefingerpieces strike one set of. keys-say the keys of the lower-casetype-and when it is desired to print an upper-case type the plate F maybe moved from the position shown in Figs. I and II to that shown inFigs. III and IV by pressing against a suitable horn or projection, J,

(No model.)

when the stems of the finger-pieces will be turned from the positionshown in Figs. I and Vto that shown in Figs. III and VI, and will beover the keys of the upper-case type, so that on the depression of oneof the finger-pieces an uppercase letter will be printed. As soon as thepressureis removed from the horn J the plate F and the stems of thefinger-pieces will be turned back to their normalposition, and alower-case character will be produced upon the operation of afinger-piece. I have shown the plate E bent downward and secured by itslower inner end to a crosspieee, L, supported by the posts H.

It will be seen that the lower-case letters or characters may beoperated without shifting or turning the finger-pieces, and when acapital or upper-case character is to be printed the finger pieces areshifted or turned as described. The stems of. the finger-pieces aresurrounded by springs M, by which the fingerpieces are raised to theirnormal position after being operated.

In the modification shown in Figs. VII and VIII there are projectionsformed upon the rods making the connections between the keys and thetype-carrying levers, and by shifting these rods one key may be made tooperate either one of two levers. In Figs. IX and X a similararrangement is shown, except that instead of the rods being in one piecewith a double or T-head they are formed in separate pieces with a halfon each. In Figs. XI and XII a similar arrangement to my preferred formis shown, except that instead of shifting or turning the finger-piecesof the keys the keys themselves are shifted. It will thus be seen,withthe arrangement I have shown, that the upper and lower case of all thekeys may be operated with just half the number of finger-pieces thatthere are keys, and the method I have shown of accomplishing this resultis cheap, durable, and efi'ectual.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a type-writer or similar machine, aset offinger-pieces having bent stems and adapted to be turned to operate theupper or lower case keys, as specified.

2. In a typewriter or similar machine, the

finger-pieces provided with stems bent at D, a-

plate for turning said stems, and finger-pieces to operate the upper andlower case keys, as described.

3. In a type-writer or similar 1nacliine,tnrn- 5 ingfinger-pieces,whereby either the ripper or lower casekeys may beoperated, as described.

4. In a type-writer or similar machine, the combination of thefinger-pieces provided with bent stems, fixed plate, movable plate, and

10 keys, the movable plate adapted to turn the finger-pieces to operateeither an upper or lower case key, as described.

